National Apology
Anniversary
The speech that stopped the
Nation
The National Apology to Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
was delivered by the former Prime Minister
Mr. Kevin Rudd on February 13th, 2008,
and acknowledged in particular the Stolen
Generations.
The National Sorry Day Committee encourages all schools, community groups, workplaces and individuals to commemorate the
anniversary of this important event in Australia's history.
Download the National Sorry Day Committee’s schools resource, Learning about
the Stolen Generation.
Listen to or play footage from the National Apology and discuss the speeches with
your students.
Some questions you might want to consider with your students as part of a lesson are:
With sensitivity, honouring the Apology Anniversary and National Sorry Day builds understanding and respect between school
and community, teachers and students.
1. When might we apologise and say sorry
for something, and how important is it?
Any personal stories to share? How did
you feel when someone apologised?
Commemorate this day as a whole school
activity. Some schools have a special assembly inviting families and Koorie community
members, some schools plant a commemorative tree annually and have Koorie focused activities through the day.
2. Why was it so important for our Federal Parliament to make an Apology?
To hear personal stories from members
of the Stolen Generations, go to Stolen
Generations’ Testimonies.
Invite a Stolen Generations member or another Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
parent, Elder or community member to
speak with your students about the Stolen
Generations and the importance of celebrating the Apology Anniversary.
It’s important to discuss with your guest
speaker prior to the lesson what they are
willing to talk about, especially relating to
potentially sensitive issues. Remember that
across Victoria and the rest of the nation
almost every, if not all Aboriginal families
have been negatively affected by the policies and practices that have led to dispossession and what we now call the Stolen
Generations. For some, this is still very difficult to reconcile and talk about.
Reaction to the Prime Minister's apology in Canberra and Sydney today.
Photos: Peter Rae, Jon Reid and Mark Graham., Sydney Morning Herald.
The Apology …
Motion offering an apology to Australia's Indigenous peoples.
The Speaker: Prime Minister.
Prime Minister (Hon Kevin Rudd MP): Mr Speaker, I move:
That today we honour the Indigenous peoples of this land, the oldest continuing
cultures in human history.
We reflect on their past mistreatment.
We reflect in particular on the mistreatment of those who were Stolen Generations this blemished chapter in our nation's history.
The time has now come for the nation to turn a new page in Australia's history by
righting the wrongs of the past and so moving forward with confidence to the future.
We apologise for the laws and policies of successive Parliaments and governments
that have inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss on these our fellow Australians.
We apologise especially for the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, their communities and their country.
For the pain, suffering and hurt of these Stolen Generations, their descendants and
for their families left behind, we say sorry.
To the mothers and the fathers, the brothers and the sisters, for the breaking up of
families and communities, we say sorry.
And for the indignity and degradation thus inflicted on a proud people and a proud
culture, we say sorry.
We the Parliament of Australia respectfully request that this apology be received in
the spirit in which it is offered as part of the healing of the nation.
For the future we take heart; resolving that this new page in the history of our great
continent can now be written.
We today take this first step by acknowledging the past and laying claim to a future
that embraces all Australians.
A future where this Parliament resolves that the injustices of the past must never,
never happen again.
A future where we harness the determination of all Australians, Indigenous and non
-Indigenous, to close the gap that lies between us in life expectancy, educational
achievement and economic opportunity.
A future where we embrace the possibility of new solutions to enduring problems
where old approaches have failed.
A future based on mutual respect, mutual resolve and mutual responsibility.
A future where all Australians, whatever their origins, are truly equal partners, with
equal opportunities and with an equal stake in shaping the next chapter in the history of this great country, Australia.
Victorian Curriculum: (VCHHK076)
Australian Curriculum: (ACHHK063 )
History / Levels 3 and 4 / Historical
Knowledge / Community, remembrance
and celebrations.
Humanities and Social Sciences / History /
Year 3 / Historical Knowledge and Understanding / Community and remembrance.
Significance of days and weeks celebrated or commemorated in Australia and
the importance of symbols and emblems, including Australia Day, ANZAC
Day, Harmony Week, National Reconciliation Week, NAIDOC week and National
Sorry Day.
Days and weeks celebrated or commemorated in Australia (including Australia
Day, ANZAC Day, Harmony Week, National Reconciliation Week, NAIDOC
week and National Sorry Day) and the
importance of symbols and emblems.
WEBLINKS:
Schools Resource: http://vaeai.org.au/_uploads/_ckpg/files/NSDC's%20School%
20Resource%20-%20Learning%20about%20the%20Stolen%20Generations.pdf
Parliament: http://www.australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/sorry-daystolen-generations
Parliament: http://www.australia.gov.au/about-australia/our-country/our-people/
apology-to-australias-indigenous-peoples
National Museum: http://www.nma.gov.au/online_features/defining_moments/
featured/national_apology
Media: http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/kevin-rudd-sayssorry/2008/02/13/1202760342960.html
Stolen Generation Testimonies: http://www.stolengenerationstestimonies.com/
2016